Inositol in Preventing Lung Cancer in Patients With Bronchial Epithelial Dysplasia Who Are Current or Former Smokers

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Diagnosis of persistent bronchial dysplasia despite regular twice-daily treatment with inhaled budesonide for 6 or 12 months on protocol BCCA-CIC-98-37 * Current or former smokers who have smoked at least 30 pack years * Sputum cells showing AIC atypia by computer-assisted image analysis * At least 2 abnormal sites on fluorescence bronchoscopy (red/green ratio at least 0.45) suspicious for bronchial dysplasia * At least 1 site confirmed by bronchial biopsy * Solitary dysplastic lesion allowed provided the diameter is greater than 1.5 mm * No invasive cancer on bronchoscopy or abnormal low-dose spiral CT scan suspicious for lung cancer PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 40 to 74 Performance status * ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Hematologic function normal * No bleeding disorder Hepatic * Liver function normal * Liver enzymes no greater than upper limit of normal Renal * Renal function normal Cardiovascular * No unstable angina * No congestive heart failure Pulmonary * No acute or chronic respiratory failure * No acute bronchitis or pneumonia within the past month Other * Fasting glucose less than 144 mg/dL * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * Willing to have a bronchoscopy * No schizophrenia * No bipolar disorder * No diabetes * No known reaction to topical xylocaine * No other medical condition that would jeopardize patient safety du…